The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-07-27
IncineTated.


Shortly after two o'clock ON tuesday
morning, our citizens We're aroused from
their peaceful slumbers by the dreaded alarm
of fire. The flames originated in the little
building OH the north side of Main street,
owned by Mr.. G. G. Searles and occupied by
Long IL Horton as a barber-shop, the interior
of which was all on fire before it was discov-
cred and which was shortly enveloped in
flames and totally destroyed, together with
all its contents.
The fire was speedily communicated to l..
w. Osbornes furniture store, adjoining the
barber-shop on the west. The furniture in
the lower story was removed with compare
lively little damage, but the large stock up
stairs was nearly all destroyed.
a little delay occurred i'll getting out the
fire apparatus occasioned by the parting of
the bell rope attached to the fire alarm, at the
very first pull, rendering it necessary for a
man to climb the tower into the belfry
before the fire bell could be rung, which, i'll
the darkness, necessarily consumed little
time. Frank Clancy was equal TO the emer-
Gency and soon, from his lofty perch. he was
pealing forth the startling call of danger.
Very quickly after this, the hremen were on
hand, and soon our magnificent Silsby was
pouring flood of water from double line
of hose upon the roaring, cracking flame.
Many people thought and said that it would
be impossible to extinguish the fire, that the
entire block must 90, but it didn't Just the
same, as not more than oneh half the Osborne
building was consumed, although it was burn
ed so badly as to be nearly orquite "a total loss.
The flames, owing TO the peculiar construc-
ton of the roof over the block, were exceed
ingly difficult to reach with the stream. but
our fremen-and they are valiant band of
workers at q tire--were equal to the occa-
sion, notwithstanding the fire had ex-
tended over and through the furniture store
into the next building of the block, which is
owned 10y ). IL. Biaclman. The middle,
upper room of this latter building was badly
burned out and the roof considerably dam
aged. 1t required fully two hours of steady
throwing of water TO completely extinguish
the fire, and the work begun in darkness
ended in the broad light of day.
1t is impossible TO tell accurately the
amount of the loss, but it is, probably, from
$4,000 to $1,000. Osborne was the heaviest
loser by far, but his loss is nearly or quite
covered by insurance. Blackman was fully
insured. Holmes Il Spicer were slightly
damaged by water; insured. The Searles
building, worth some $500, was, as we under
stand, uninsured as was the stock and tools
of Messrs. Long d Horton, BARRIERS, upon
whom the loss falls heavily, as they are poor
men without means TO purchase a new outfit
A subscription is being circulated for their
relief and a handsome sum will be realized
1t is probable that the burned and dam
aged buildings will be promptly rebuilt and
repaired.
The origin of the fire. which was first dis
covered by Mrs. Henry Drown, who was
ox ota,a NV no ,,sI ,,lo 4.
involved in mystery.
As Is always the case at such time, there
were many incidents, amusing and otherwise
One of the otherwise was the stealing of one
of Osbornes chairs by man who may find
himself in durance vile if lie don't return the
stolen property. Those ladies whom he met
at the court house are very willing TO "give
him away"
Of course, there was a grand rush for the
removal of property that was not endangered
III the least Brooks and Rider were among
the hrst at the Dyckman House barn after
their horses; they ought to have been the
very first as they fell out of their bedroom
WihdoW in their haste to get there.
VIII Hinckley was not the last by any
means; they say he was seen up at the town
nan with his two horses, pushing one anC
pulling the other, and that there was such &
rumbhng up there that people at first thought
the drum corps was out for practice, bu
ascertained that it was only the heavy breath
ing of Wills fiery steeds.
Bert Tanzell of the Dyckman House. was
anxious. as was natural, TO save that which
was most useful to him and, in his haste
grabbed his own and all of his wife's clothe:
and fled to the street leaving Mrs. L. behind
, A lady remarked that the 1st assistant
, chief ought to be taken across somebody
knee and served as they serve naughty child
, rem, just because he came out barefooted
He was on deck though and no one has taker
q slipper to him as yet.
Our people went home in the morning
feeling that our steamer had again paid 70
itself and more too, and realizing that thu
Paw Paw fire department is in every wa.
worthy of their confidence and most heart,
support.